Road closed as firefighters tackle Ballygawley gorse fire

POLICE have advised the public to avoid the Millix Road in Ballygawley due to an ongoing gorse fire.

A spokesperson said, “The Millix Road in Ballygawley is currently closed at the junction of Whitebridge Road and Altamuskin due to a gorse fire.

“The public are advised to avoid the area at this time.”

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) received nearly 1,000 emergency calls over the weekend as wildfires swept through parts of the country — including a major blaze in the Sperrin Mountains and a smaller gorse fire near Castlederg.

Between Thursday and Sunday, the NIFRS dealt with 146 wildfire-related incidents, with several large-scale fires still burning on Monday in counties Down and Antrim.

In Tyrone, a wildfire on Sawel Mountain required six fire appliances and 33 firefighters on Monday evening. The blaze is believed to have been started deliberately. Firefighters also tackled a smaller gorse fire outside Castlederg last Friday.

A NIFRS spokesperson said, “Firefighting operations are expected to continue across the evening at these incidents, and we would reiterate our appeal for people to avoid these areas.

“An amber weather warning remains in place for wildfires. Please stay vigilant to the risk of fire in the countryside and continue to follow our safety advice. If you see a fire, call 999 immediately.”